Gael Garcia Bernal

Having worked as an actor in his native Mexico since childhood, GAEL GARCIA BERNAL made his feature film debut in Alejandro Gonzalez Iarritu's Academy Award-nominated "Amores Perros. His breakthrough performance in the universally acclaimed film earned him a Silver Ariel Award (Mexico's equivalent of the Oscar) as well as a Silver Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film Festival, both as Best Actor.

Gael Garcia Bernal's next film role was in another globally celebrated feature, Alfonso Cuaron's Academy Award-nominated Y Tu Mama Tambien (And Your Mother Too), starring opposite his lifelong friend Diego Luna. For their performances, the two friends were jointly voted the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the Venice International Film Festival. In 2008 he starred alongside Diego Aluna again in Rudo y Cursi.

He subsequently starred in the title role of Carlos Carrera's Academy Award-nominated romantic drama El Crimen del padre Amaro (The Crime of Father Amaro). His performance earned him the Silver Goddess Award for Best Actor from the Mexican Cinema Journalists, as well as a nomination from the Chicago Film Critics' Association for Most Promising Performer.

In addition to acting, Gael Garcia Bernal has taken on the roles of both director and producer. He founded the production company Canana, with his close friend, actor Diego Luna and producer Pablo Cruz((. Canana was established)) in order both to further the awareness of the popularity of Mexican Cinema and to prove that Mexican Independent films can find local audiences as well.

Recently Bernal starred in Limits of Control (Los limites del control) with Tilda Swinton and directed by Jim Jarmusch. He also starred in Even the Rain directed by Iciar Bollain and "Mammoth (Mamut) with Michelle Williams and directed by Lukas Moodysson, and "Letters to Juliet (Cartas a Julieta) with Amanda Seyfriend. Next up, Gael will star in Casa de Mi Padre (House of My Father) with Will Ferrell and Diego Luna

Note: This profile was written in or before 2012.Read earlier biographies on this page.